Coon Rapids Tribune

Coon Rapids Tribune

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get our latest articles delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, we promise.



Pickle Pie

Just when you thought every possible variation of pickle cuisine had been invented, along comes the latest list of new foods to watch for at this year’s Minnesota State Fair.

Among the new offerings for 2026: Pickle Pie at LuLu’s Public House — described as “pie crust filled with a blend of chopped pickles, pickle juice and cream cheese. Topped with homemade savory whipped frosting made with ranch and Cholula Hot Sauce. Garnished with a gherkin and a sprinkle of dill.” It’s vegetarian.

And that’s not all. Urban Glow Mocktails will be offering “Dill with it, Cookie!” — a bakery concoction created by Holman’s Table that combines white chocolate chips, finely chopped dill pickles and fresh dill, finished with a sprinkle of sugar and Maldon sea salt.

They’re among 36 official new fair foods this year, and nine new vendors who’ll be making their debut at the annual Great Minnesota Get-Together.

In addition to the two new foods listed above, the new official fair food offerings are:

Cracklin' Corn Ribs
Cracklin' Corn Ribs at The Blue Barn
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Cracklin' Corn Ribs at The Blue Barn: Corn cob quarters dipped in tempura batter, then fried. Brushed with seasoned butter and topped with bacon ranch, green onion and candied jalapeños. Served on a bed of pork rinds.

    Longanisa Cheese Curd Lumpia
    Longanisa Cheese Curd Lumpia at Lumpia City
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Longanisa Cheese Curd Lumpia at Lumpia City: Homemade Filipino longanisa — pronounced “lohng-guh-NEE-sah” — pork sausage combined with garlic and Wisconsin cheese curds, stuffed and rolled in a lumpia wrapper and deep-fried. Served with a side of sweet chili sauce.

    French Chouxnut Sundae
    French Chouxnut Sundae at Bridgeman’s Ice Cream
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • French Chouxnut Sundae at Bridgeman’s Ice Cream: Pronounced “SHOO-but” — Bridgeman's salted caramel espresso ice cream piled atop a choux pastry donut filled with milk chocolate mousse and topped with dark chocolate fondant icing and chocolate curls. Finished with caramel drizzle, whipped cream and a cherry. (Vegetarian)

    Korean BBQ Bao* Buns
    Korean BBQ Bao Buns at Rooted & Wild by Snack House
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Korean BBQ Bao Buns at Rooted & Wild by Snack House: Vegan Chunk plant-based shredded “meat” tossed in hot Korean barbecue sauce. Topped with pineapple slaw and served on folded, steamed bao buns. (Vegan)

    Surf 'N' Turf Burger
    Surf ‘N’ Turf Burger at Cafe Caribe
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Surf ‘N’ Turf Burger at Cafe Caribe: Lobster tossed in garlic-herb butter stacked on a 1/3-pound seasoned grilled beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese. Drizzled with homemade chipotle mayo, served on a toasted brioche bun with a lemon wedge.

    Butter Brew Mustache Pretzel
    Butter Brew Mustache Pretzel at Blue Moon Dine-In Theater
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Butter Brew Mustache Pretzel at Blue Moon Dine-In Theater: Handmade soft pretzel dough rolled in the shape of a mustache and baked. Coated in melted butter and tossed in a butter brew sugar mixture flavored with caramel, vanilla and butterscotch. Served with a side of vanilla soft-serve dip. (Vegetarian)

    Bao Belly
    Bao Belly at RC's BBQ
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Bao Belly at RC's BBQ: Smoked barbecue pork belly drizzled with RC's hot sauce and yum yum sauce. Topped with pickled vegetables and cilantro and served on folded, steamed bao buns.

    Blue Moon Crunch
    Blue Moon Crunch at Minnesnowii Shave Ice
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Blue Moon Crunch at Minnesnowii Shave Ice: Fluffy shave ice infused with blue moon flavor, dusted with Fruity Pebbles cereal and drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Inspired by the flavors of blue moon ice cream. (Gluten-free and Vegan upon request)

    Walking Chopped Italian Grinder
    Walking Chopped Italian Grinder at Mancini's al Fresco
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Walking Chopped Italian Grinder at Mancini’s al Fresco: Chopped Italian grinder sandwich-style blend of sliced salami, pepperoncinis, green olives, artichokes, roasted red peppers and fresh mozzarella pearls, tossed in Italian dressing. Layered over a bag of Dutch Crunch Parmesan & Garlic Kettle Chips and drizzled with Calabrian chili aioli.

    Shakshuka Lamb  Meatballs
    Shakshuka Lamb Meatballs at French Meadow Bakery & Cafe
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Shakshuka Lamb Meatballs at French Meadow Bakery & Cafe: Seasoned lamb and pork meatballs stuffed with whipped garlic herb goat cheese and flash-fried. Served atop shakshuka — pronounced “shahk-SHOO-kah,” a blend of tomatoes, chili peppers, onions and spices — garnished with parsley and served with a side of chimichurri-spiced sourdough crostini. (Gluten-free upon request)

    Dubai Whoopie Pie
    Dubai Whoopie Pie at Dino’s Gyros
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Dubai Whoopie Pie at Dino’s Gyros: Dubai chocolate-inspired whoopie pie made with pistachio cream sandwiched between two dark chocolate cakes. Rolled in Dino's Dubai crunch topping of shredded filo, crushed pistachios, honey and brown sugar. (Vegetarian)

    Chorizo Manchego Croquettes
    Chorizo Manchego Croquettes at Paella Depot
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Chorizo Manchego Croquettes at Paella Depot: Spanish-style potato croquettes filled with manchego cheese and Spanish chorizo. Lightly breaded, fried and garnished with chives. Drizzled with homemade lemon garlic aioli. (Gluten-free)

    Honey Brisket Battered Potatoes
    Honey Brisket Battered Potatoes at Australian Battered Potatoes
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Honey Brisket Battered Potatoes at Australian Battered Potatoes: Deep-fried Australian Battered Potatoes topped with beef brisket, smothered in nacho cheese and drizzled with hot honey.

    Hmong Corndog
    Hmong Corndog at Union Hmong Kitchen
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Hmong Corndog at Union Hmong Kitchen: Pork Hmong sausage flavored with ginger, garlic, fish sauce, chili and lemongrass made in collaboration with Kramarczuk’s. Skewered, dipped in a cornmeal batter and fried. Served with a side of citrus Kua Txob sauce — pronounced “goo-ah-CHOH.”

    Tacos de Mole
    Tacos de Mole at El Burrito Mercado
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Tacos de Mole at El Burrito Mercado: Flour tortillas filled with shredded chicken, cheese and house-made mole sauce. Deep-fried, drizzled with more mole sauce and garnished with queso fresco.

    Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries
    Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries at Midtown Global Market's Irie Jamaican Express
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries at Midtown Global Market's Irie Jamaican Express: Battered french fries topped with Jamaican jerk chicken, melted cheese and green onions. Drizzled with ranch and jerk sauce. (Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 only)

    When Pigs Fly
    When Pigs Fly at Sausage Sister & Me
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • When Pigs Fly at Sausage Sister & Me: Flight of pork sausages wrapped in puff pastry and served on-a-stick. Varieties include: Chorizo Sausage with chimichurri; Texas Two-Step Sausage with sweet pepper coleslaw; Oktoberfest Sausage with melted cheddar and chili crunch; and Porketta Italian Sausage with pickle aioli.

    The Fried and the Furious: Cubano Drift
    The Fried and the Furious: Cubano Drift at The Herbivorous Butcher
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • The Fried and the Furious: Cubano Drift at The Herbivorous Butcher: Deep-fried Cubano-style sandwich made with a crunchy tortilla filled with vegan Cuban pork, vegan Swiss cheese, dill pickle relish, vegan garlic mayo and mustard. Served with a side of jalapeño citrus sauce. (Vegan)

    Strawberry Ube Sundae Tart
    Strawberry Ube Sundae Tart at Sara's Tipsy Pies
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Strawberry Ube Sundae Tart at Sara's Tipsy Pies: Swirled strawberry and ube marshmallow cream mixed with chocolate chips, chilled and scooped into a fudge-filled gluten-friendly shortbread crust. Topped with whipped cream, strawberry sauce and edible glitter sprinkles. (Gluten-friendly)

    Peri-Peri Bowl
    Peri-Peri Bowl at Afro Deli & Grill
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Peri-Peri Bowl at Afro Deli & Grill: Fried peri-peri hot chicken, seasoned with African Bird's Eye chili peppers, garlic, lemon and herbs. Combined with mini beef sambusas and fried sweet plantains, all topped with peri-peri sauce and choice of: basbaas (pronounced “BAHS-bahs,” spicy Somali green chili pepper sauce) or spicy red chili sauce.

    Sligo* Slider Bites On-A-Stick
    Sligo Slider Bites On-A-Stick at O’Gara’s at the Fair
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Sligo Slider Bites On-A-Stick at O’Gara’s at the Fair: Handmade dumplings stuffed with a cheeseburger blend made of beef, cheddar, pickle and onion. Skewered on a stick and deep-fried. Served with homemade Thousand Island dressing.

    Brandy Old Fashioned Cookie Dough
    Brandy Old Fashioned Cookie Dough at Kora & Mila’s Cookie Dough
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Brandy Old Fashioned Cookie Dough at Kora & Mila’s Cookie Dough: Edible cookie dough infused with nonalcoholic brandy flavor and combined with orange zest, cinnamon, dark chocolate chips and tart dried cherries. Served on-a-stick, hand dipped in brandy-flavored bittersweet chocolate, and rolled in Biscoff cookie crumbs. (Vegetarian)

    Apple Donut Ham Grinder
    Apple Donut Ham Grinder at Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Apple Donut Ham Grinder at Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop: First Kiss apples from Pleasant Valley Orchard, sliced into rings, battered, deep-fried and tossed in cinnamon sugar. Stacked with sliced uncured ham from Hidden Stream Farm, dressed arugula and drizzled with Crybaby Craig's Hot Honey, made with honey from Bolton Bees. Served with herb-whipped ricotta spread on a toasted hoagie roll from Emma Krumbee's Bakery.

    Banana Butterscotch Barnraiser
    Banana Butterscotch Barnraiser at Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop
    Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
  • Banana Butterscotch Barnraiser at Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop: Vanilla pound cake layered with roasted bananas, butterscotch sauce and caramelized croissant croutons made by Patisserie 46. Topped with whipped cream from Stony Creek Dairy and garnished with nut-free cereal mix made with Corn Chex, Biscoff cookie butter, chocolate chips, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. (Vegetarian)

Check back for updates.



Source link


Contracts and hidden fees can be a significant point of frustration. Imagine agreeing to a year’s worth of terms with an internet service provider without knowing what could happen next month. Maybe a new ISP announces it’s coming to your area, you land a new job in a different town or your internet needs change and you decide to switch plans. Breaking the agreement you locked yourself into can be costly and tedious. Even worse are the unexpected fees that show up on your monthly bill.

I dove into 13 ISPs that CNET readers rated highly through our People’s Picks survey. All of the ISPs listed below work to mitigate the frustrations that contracts can cause. But some providers make fees trickier to navigate. Whether you’re charged one-time fees or choose month-to-month billing, there are some caveats to watch out for. If you don’t, you may be surprised and disappointed by what you find hidden in the fine print.

CNET’s People’s Picks: Internet service providers 

What to know about the no-contract ISP frenzy

All 13 People’s Picks ISPs have contract-free service plans, which give you more control and flexibility with your internet service. 

Contracts have generally become a thing of the past among 5G home internet providers such as T-Mobile and Verizon. As those services have become widely available in a relatively short period of time, competitors have been forced to do away with some of their more irritating features, including contracts and data caps, according to CNET principal writer Joe Supan 

However, month-to-month service doesn’t mean it’s cheaper or that there aren’t other service requirements. 

A credit check and advanced payment may be required. Before signing up for month-to-month service, most providers, including Spectrum, AT&T and Xfinity, require a credit check to determine whether you qualify or need to pay a deposit. And you’ll likely need to pay for your first month upfront to kick-start a pay-as-you-go plan, rather than paying after the fact as you would with a contract.

The cost per Mbps may be higher for month-to-month service. If you’re deciding between service plans or providers, it’s best to compare prices between no-contract ISPs and those that require a contract. We recommend factoring the cost per Mbps, which is the internet speed compared to the plan price. For example, GFiber has an excellent cost per Mbps and doesn’t require a contract. If you prefer the best deal over flexibility, you may opt for a contract for a lower monthly payment. Whereas you may be OK with paying more if you want the freedom to cancel whenever without termination fees. 

Many contract-free ISPs still have plenty of fees

Among the 13 People’s Picks providers that scored highly, Electric Power Board, Quantum, Sonic, Ting and Ziply were the only providers that didn’t receive complaints from CNET readers about price hikes and hidden fees. Readers who have Ting reported that their bill has stayed the same over the past year, and most Sonic users reported the same. Only a small percentage noted a price increase, and only because a promotional period ended. 

Hidden fees, or “junk fees,” typically include charges for data cap coverages. Some ISPs are even charging subscriptions for internet service and network maintenance. And other fees also add up, such as charges for equipment rental, installation and activation. It’s not uncommon to sign up for a service expecting one price, only to get a higher bill because of unexpected fees such as activation or installation.

“Activation and equipment fees are still pretty common, and I wouldn’t consider them a red flag necessarily. What I would look out for is if a provider will waive the fee if you use your own equipment. You should be able to buy your own modem and router without being forced to use your ISP’s,” Supan said.

Watch this: How to Get Fiber-Optic Speeds Without the Fiber

You could be overlooking the broadband facts label, which lists your plan’s speeds and price.Supan said broadband labels are useful for anyone shopping for internet service. “All the fees are laid out clearly, including one called ‘early termination fee.’ This will tell you how much you’ll be on the hook for if you leave your contract before it’s over,” he explained.

Before signing up with a service provider, look for any charges that may not be advertised, such as data cap overage charges or credit card processing fees. It’s also worth asking if any fees can be waived or if there’s a discount available. For example, Xfinity charges less for self-installation compared to professional set-up. And you may be able to skip equipment rental charges by getting your own router. 

“This is one of the best ways to save money on your internet bill. You can get a quality router for $100, while most ISPs charge around $10 a month,” said Supan. “In most cases, buying your own equipment will pay for itself within a year.”

You may be comfortable with some fees, which is OK. But it’s most important to know what you’re signing up for beforehand. 





Source link

Recent Reviews